Thinking of a city break in Bangkok?

Read our brief city guide to Bangkok below to help you decide if a weekend getaway or short break in Bangkok is what you want, then click on Bangkok short break packages to view our short break packages to Bangkok.

Bangkok is one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities. Created as the Thai capital in 1782 by the first monarch of the present Chakri dynasty, Bangkok is a national treasure house and Thailand's spiritual, cultural, political, commercial, educational and diplomatic centre.

Attractions
Vimanmek Palace is the summer palace of King Rama V. The 81-room mansion houses impressive furniture and royal jewelry and objects of interest that were actually used by the king.
The most important landmarks in the City of Angels are the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The Palace is a large walled complex comprising several buildings dating back 200 years that are used for specific occasions. The royal temple houses the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, exquisitely carved from a block of jade.
Across the Chao Phraya River is the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun). The temple predates the city's founding and is beautifully adorned with glass and ceramic mosaics.
Rent a long-tail boat and tour the Floating Market off of Bangkok's numerous canals. The market is open daily in the mornings and interesting wats and daily life can be seen off the banks of the canals.
The Royal Barge Museum houses the elaborate barges that are used for royal and governmental functions. The most beautiful and famous one is the Suphanahongse, a golden swan barge used solely by the king.
While in bangkok you must try a traditional thai massage, most major hotels offer this service but there are also many spas.